Radical cleric Abu Hamza and four other terror suspects could be put on a plane to the United States within days after Europe’s human rights judges rejected their bid for an appeal.

BRITAIN will abstain from the United Nations vote on the Palestinian bid for statehood, Foreign Secretary William Hague told parliament yesterday.

The News of the World paid protection officers for personal details about the Queen and other senior royals, according to emails handed to police.

The United Nations is drafting a resolution to impose a no-fly zone over Libya as the international community edges closer to military intervention in the North African country.

Irish golfing star Padraig Harrington said he was “thrilled” to receive an honorary degree today.

British troops are to be pulled out of the Sangin area of Afghanistan, where nearly a third of UK deaths in the war have occurred.

Israel’s ambassador should be summoned to the British Foreign Office to answer allegations of his country’s involvement in the assassination of a Hamas commander by a hit squad using fake British and European passports, a senior MP demanded today.

One of Tony Blair's closest advisers will be grilled by the Iraq Inquiry today as it starts a week of evidence sessions dominated by key political figures.

Tony Blair’s former spin chief should face a fresh grilling by the Iraq Inquiry after he issued a “clarification” of his previous evidence, a senior MP said today.

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair said he believes it still would have been right to have invaded Iraq even if it was known then that Saddam Hussein did not have weapons of mass destruction.

A BRITISH junior minister announced yesterday he will return more than £40,000 (€44,586) in taxpayer-funded allowances, as the total repaid by MPs caught up in the expenses scandal passed the £100,000 mark.

The cost of failing to act to save the Dunfermline Building Society would be “immeasurable”, politicians warned today.

Nick Clegg was today elected the new leader of the British Liberal Democrats.

Sir Menzies Campbell said today he felt “irritated and frustrated” after quitting as Liberal Democrat leader.

Former UK Liberal Democrat leader Menzies Campbell today said he stood down as leader after becoming "irritated and frustrated" by some media, who had an "obsession" with his age.

The British Liberal Democrats will announce a timetable for appointing a successor to Menzies Campbell today.

Sir Menzies Campbell tonight dramatically quit as leader of Britain's Liberal Democrat Party, blaming Gordon Brown’s decision to cancel a snap election for his decision to quit.

Sir Menzies Campbell has resigned as leader of the Liberal Democrats in the UK, party president Simon Hughes said.

Gordon Brown suffered a fresh blow today as a poll showed the Tories have established a seven-point lead over Labour as their support reached a 15-year high.

Adverse opinion polls played a role in persuading Gordon Brown not to call a snap general election, one of his most senior Cabinet allies confirmed today.

Gordon Brown will hit back at accusations he treated the public “like fools” over his autumn election decision today when he faces the press and fellow MPs.

A general election is “very unlikely” to be called in the next year, Gordon Brown indicated today as he defended his decision to kill off the possibility of an autumn poll.

David Cameron sustained the pressure on Gordon Brown to declare his intentions today as the UK Prime Minister weighed up the gamble of calling an autumn election.

President George Bush will announce plans for a limited withdrawal of US troops from Iraq, the White House said tonight.

US military objectives were “in large measure being met” – and President George Bush should start withdrawing US forces from Iraq from this month, US Commander General Petraeus said today.

UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown today insisted that the withdrawal of British soldiers from their last base in Basra city did not amount to a “defeat” for the United Kingdom in southern Iraq.

Britain expects to hand over Basra Palace to Iraqi control “in the next few days” after the last UK forces based there began pulling out tonight, the Ministry of Defence said.

The head of the British Army during the invasion of Iraq has labelled post-war US policy “intellectually bankrupt”, it was reported today.

Hundreds of late-night revellers are feared to have been the target of a massive terrorist car bomb left outside a landmark London nightclub.

Gordon Brown will be under pressure to make a substantial appointment to the post of Northern Secretary following reports that Paddy Ashdown turned down an offer to take the job, it was claimed today.

LABOUR was last night braced for a political bruising in the biggest test of electoral opinion since it won a third term in office in the 2005 general election.

Millions of voters go to the polls today in the government’s biggest electoral test since Labour won its third term in power in 2005.

A Foreign Office minister held fresh crisis talks with the Iranian ambassador today in a bid to secure the release of 15 Royal Navy personnel.

Tony Blair today warned talks being held in a bid to restore devolution to the North were a “one-off opportunity” to build a lasting future for the province.

The UK government came under increasing pressure today to help set free British residents held at Guantanamo Bay after it emerged an offer from America was turned down.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair was set to reshuffle his Cabinet this morning after Labour suffered a humiliating defeat in local council elections.

A £34 billion (€49.13bn) boost for schools, as British Chancellor Gordon Brown vowed to make “excellence in education” his priority, was one of the key planks of yesterday’s budget.

Menzies Campbell was today elected the new leader of the Liberal Democrats.

Unconfirmed reports have named Menzies Campbell as the new leader of the Liberal Democrat party.

Sir Menzies Campbell, a leading contender for leadership of Britain’s Liberal Democrat Party, today ruled out coalition talks with Labour or the Conservatives if he won the contest.

Mark Oaten today threw his hat into the ring for the fight for the UK's Liberal Democrat leadership as he declared he would modernise the party and lead it to power.

Charles Kennedy’s former deputy Menzies Campbell was today clear favourite to succeed him as Liberal Democrat leader.

Charles Kennedy bowed to the inevitable today and resigned as Liberal Democrat leader, two days after admitting a drink problem.

Preliminary results from a newspaper poll today indicated just 27% of Britain's Liberal Democrat party members wanted Charles Kennedy to lead them into the next election.